Schmidt Science Fellowship

The Schmidt Fellowship is open to ambitious STEMM PhD students who show a genuine interest in interdisciplinary research and a pivot in research discipline from PhD to postdoc.

Applications for final year STEMM PhD students to self-nominate for the 2026 Schmidt Science Fellowship are now closed. The next call will open early in 2026, subject to Schmidt selecting Cambridge as a nominating partner.

What is the Schmidt Science Fellowship?

Schmidt Science offers a generous two-year postdoctoral Fellowship to STEMM PhD students who display:

  • extraordinary academic achievement
  • a high degree of intellectual curiosity and creativity
  • a commitment to innovation, collaboration and interdisciplinary working
  • character, leadership, and a drive to make a positive difference in society and the world.

Candidates are expected to show a pivot: a clear-cut and ambitious change of discipline from their PhD to the proposed postdoc research.

The Fellowship offers: 

  • $110,000 (in 2026) per year for up to two years of postdoctoral research
  • tailored science leadership training and development
  • lifelong access to a stimulating, caring and collaborative community.

What is the pivot?

One of the key differentiating features of the Schmidt Fellowship is the pivot. Candidates must show:

  • a pivot to another STEMM discipline, pivots to social sciences are not eligible
  • a genuine and ambitious change of direction from their PhD, linear or incremental extensions of PhD studies are unlikely to be considered ambitious enough
  • that their pivot would enable the candidate to achieve scientific goals not possible under their current course of research
  • a commitment to bold, interdisciplinary research
  • a clear rationale for this change of direction
  • a desire for genuine development of new expertise, learning new skill sets, and a widening of perspectives and networks.

Who can apply?

Applying for the Fellowship involves a two-stage process. Self-nomination for internal selection and shortlisting through the Postdoc Academy. Followed by a Schmidt application process for shortlisted candidates only.

The process is highly competitive, with a maximum of eight candidates shortlisted to apply directly to Schmidt.

Applications are open to PhD students whose degree will be conferred by the University of Cambridge, students at partner institutes are eligible if they meet this criterion.

You must also be:

  • studying for a PhD in natural sciences (Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences and Physics), Engineering, Mathematics, Computing, or any of the sub-disciplines, at one of the Schmidt nominating partner institutions. Individuals on clinical track MD-PhD or Veterinary-PhD programs are not eligible
  • expected to complete all requirements for the conferral of your PhD, i.e. the unconditional approval of your thesis, between Spring 2026 and Summer 2027 (exact dates to follow when released by Schmidt)
  • able to start your Fellowship in Summer or Autumn 2027 (exact details to be released by Schmidt at the time of call)
  • able to demonstrate clearly the pivot to pursue research in an alternative discipline, to achieve a scientific goal not possible while following your current course.

More detailed information will be available on this page when the next call opens in 2026.

For more information about the Fellowship, please see the Schmidt Science website.